I was so appalled at John Balentine’s Dec. 6 article sarcastically making fun of Gov. Janet Mills’ efforts to return Maine to sensible land use planning, particularly in the area of energy. (“Help Gov. Janet save the planet.”) Maine had one of the first state climate action plans in the 1990s, and the current Democratic […]
Forecaster Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: These are the good old days
Back in the good old days – by which I mean the innocent years of the 1950s and early 1960s before I graduated from high school and America went to hell – things were substantially different than they are today, by which I mean simpler. Also dumber. Dumber? People smoked in restaurants and airplanes, even […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Magic 8-Ball predictions for 2020
One of the best annual traditions we had at Current Publishing (which was bought by The Forecaster in 2015), was consulting the Magic 8-Ball around Jan. 1 to seek clues as to how current events would trend in the new year. Reporters and editors at Current Publishing’s family of weekly community newspapers would come up […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Life Unwound: Telling the whole holiday truth
Years ago, young enough to squat without pinching a knee joint, able enough to push a hand mower to clip grass without a hip complaint, flexible enough to kneel, stand, crouch and repeat without hurting yet another body part, I sat weeding our front sidewalk. A stooped woman I deemed old, whom I now consider […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Gorham council wrong to ignore will of voters
Sometimes, you have to fight Town Hall before you can join Town Hall, and that’s just what Gorham’s Janet Kuech is doing. Kuech has worked as an educational technician (teacher’s helper, for those who don’t speak educationese) for 18 years in the Gorham school system. In November, she was elected to the Gorham Town Council. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: 2020 visions
Though I possess neither crystal ball nor psychic powers, I believe anyone who is paying attention can foresee the immediate future. Gazing across the void of a few days into 2020, here’s what I see: Donald Trump will face impeachment, but he will not be removed from office. There aren’t enough Republican senators with integrity […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Mainewhile: Bah humbug to liars and lying
‘Tis the season to be jolly – and yet I am not. I am, in fact, in a bit of a seasonal grouch. The tree is up, the windows are bedecked with wreaths, eggnog has been consumed. The halls are decked, darn it, why I am I still not fa-la-la-la-laing? I wondered at first if […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: A diverse staff is a boon for all students
When I became superintendent of the Portland Public Schools, Maine’s largest and most diverse school district, one consistent message I heard from students, parents and members of the school board and community was that they wanted our faculty and staff to better reflect the diversity of our students. That’s why we made staff diversity […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Thanks to all who made S. Portland celebration a success
The community of South Portland has once again brought Mill Creek Park to life with a beautiful holiday celebration, culminating in the lighting of the park’s trees. We sincerely thank the partners in this much-loved annual tradition: South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Community Chamber of Commerce; city of South Portland; South Portland Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department; […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, Uncategorized
Letter: Brunswick council can’t control the environment
Indeed, there has been dramatic climate change going back hundreds of thousands of years since (and prior to) the Ice Age. I question the naivete and arrogance of the Brunswick Town Council, (“Brunswick council adopts climate resolution,” Dec. 6) and actually believe they can foster changes that can reverse the natural progression of the earth’s […]